Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven, he went with Elisha from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Wait here, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel," but Elisha replied, "As the Lord lives, and your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

The sons of the prophets who were there came out to Elisha and said, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?" He replied, "Yes, I am aware of it; hold your peace." Elijah said to Elisha, "Wait here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." Elisha replied, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you," so they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were there came to Elisha and said, "Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?" He replied, "Yes, I am aware of it; hold your peace."

Elijah said to him, "Wait here; for the Lord has sent me to Jordan." Elisha replied, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you," and they both went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle, wrapped it up, and struck the waters, which parted to allow them to cross on dry ground.

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha replied, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Elisha said, "You have asked a hard thing; if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so for you, but if not, it will not be so. As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" He saw him no more; then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan. He took Elijah's mantle that had fallen from him, struck the water, and said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" When he also had struck the water, it parted hither and thither, and Elisha went over.

The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him, and they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha," and they came to meet him, bowing themselves to the ground before him. And they said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master: lest perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." Elisha said, "You shall not send."

When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. When they came back to him, he said to them, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not go'?"

The men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land is barren." Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it. He went out to the spring of the waters and cast salt in there, saying, "The Lord says, 'I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.'"

So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake. And he went up from there to Bethel; and some youths came out of the city and mocked him, saying, "Go up, you bald head; go up, you bald head." He turned back, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord; two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of their children.

He went from there to Mount Carmel and then returned to Samaria.